I know I'm not the only one in the world who gets distracted, but that doesn't make me feel much better when the word count on my latest project moves by 1000 words in a week, rather than a day. It's so much easier to catch up on blog reading, solving a problem on my paid work, general web surfing, or something else on my to-do list. However, the only way I can even crack through the plot direction is to keep writing a little bit (at least a little bit) every day so that it stays booted in my brain.
It's simply too easy to work on something with a shorter term goal, but the desire to entertain and create a novel that others will enjoy keeps me thinking. One thing that helps is pulling the network cable on the computer - can't get a new email or news update that way. Shutting down my browser works, too, in fact it's probably even better. The most important thing is just to keep thinking about the project. Then, when I'm staring at the document with pages to fill, the words will come. I just have to get started and turn off the distractions.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Rejection Time
You work on a book for over a year. Not just pounding it out over the month of November and putting some editing time on it in December, but really working on it. Conceiving, plotting, writing, editing, getting feedback, etc. Then comes the fun part. You get to boil it all down into a query letter of 250 words or so and send it to agents in your first step towards publishing your work.
And the form rejections start coming.
Step 1: Take a deep breath and remember that agents have to be picky. They probably read a hundred queries a day and have to pick out books that sound polished and publishable and fit what they're looking to sell.
Step 2: Take another look at your query letter. After the first few rejections with a query letter that I thought was good, I got an idea for rewriting it in a way that sounded much better. Even my query letter reviewers weren't able to make my original one sound better because they were more concentrated on grammar and making it sound just a bit better. It took me, the writer, to do the important editing to make it better represent the book, its tone, and its content. All my reviewers agreed that the new one was vastly superior to the original. Moral: If you think your query letter is OK, then that's what it probably is. You need better than that. Start with Query Shark for excellent lessons on good and bad queries, then go from there.
Step 3: Prepare for the inevitable. The rejections will come. That's all that might come. For most writers that's all that ever come. At least nowadays, there are alternatives. You could self-publish if you really have the drive to sell your book yourself. If it comes down to it, there's always posting a PDF of your book on your website and seeing if it catches on virally.
Rejection still sucks. No two ways about it. But, if you have never experienced rejection at this point in your life, then you either haven't lived very long or you lead a charmed life - time to join the real world. For the rest of us, good luck and keep fighting.
And the form rejections start coming.
Step 1: Take a deep breath and remember that agents have to be picky. They probably read a hundred queries a day and have to pick out books that sound polished and publishable and fit what they're looking to sell.
Step 2: Take another look at your query letter. After the first few rejections with a query letter that I thought was good, I got an idea for rewriting it in a way that sounded much better. Even my query letter reviewers weren't able to make my original one sound better because they were more concentrated on grammar and making it sound just a bit better. It took me, the writer, to do the important editing to make it better represent the book, its tone, and its content. All my reviewers agreed that the new one was vastly superior to the original. Moral: If you think your query letter is OK, then that's what it probably is. You need better than that. Start with Query Shark for excellent lessons on good and bad queries, then go from there.
Step 3: Prepare for the inevitable. The rejections will come. That's all that might come. For most writers that's all that ever come. At least nowadays, there are alternatives. You could self-publish if you really have the drive to sell your book yourself. If it comes down to it, there's always posting a PDF of your book on your website and seeing if it catches on virally.
Rejection still sucks. No two ways about it. But, if you have never experienced rejection at this point in your life, then you either haven't lived very long or you lead a charmed life - time to join the real world. For the rest of us, good luck and keep fighting.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Querying
I've been working on my first middle grade novel, The Shape I'm In, for over a year. I wrote it, edited it, polished it, had it read by several people, revised it some more, and it's finally ready. The whole process took a lot of time, but I'm proud of the results and I think kids will like it.
Now that it's "done" (well, until an editor gets a hold of it), it's time to find an agent for it. Why an agent? Because that's the way to get a fiction book published nowadays. How do I know? Because I've done some research. So, how does one get an agent? One writes a query letter. What does that look like? Okay, you get the point by now (I hope).
It took me over a year to write this book. Wouldn't I be an idiot if I didn't do a little research into the publishing chain for books? Wouldn't I be an idiot if I didn't read some blogs by agents to make sure I'm not the butt of one of their jokes (there's no guarantee that I won't be, but at least I'm trying)? I find it very humorous that people will spend enormous amounts of time to write a book and then ten minutes dashing off a stupid letter to an agent asking them if they want to read it without a lick of research on the process. It's just as funny that people will continually send the Query Shark a sample query that reads like crap, when there are almost 200 examples of queries already there to compare to their own.
I fully expect this next phase of the book to be more frustrating, depressing, and arduous than the writing of the book was in the first place. Fortunately, I've got my work on my next book, my software work, my judo, and my family to keep my spirits up. And I've done some work to give myself a leg up on the people who haven't done their homework.
Now that it's "done" (well, until an editor gets a hold of it), it's time to find an agent for it. Why an agent? Because that's the way to get a fiction book published nowadays. How do I know? Because I've done some research. So, how does one get an agent? One writes a query letter. What does that look like? Okay, you get the point by now (I hope).
It took me over a year to write this book. Wouldn't I be an idiot if I didn't do a little research into the publishing chain for books? Wouldn't I be an idiot if I didn't read some blogs by agents to make sure I'm not the butt of one of their jokes (there's no guarantee that I won't be, but at least I'm trying)? I find it very humorous that people will spend enormous amounts of time to write a book and then ten minutes dashing off a stupid letter to an agent asking them if they want to read it without a lick of research on the process. It's just as funny that people will continually send the Query Shark a sample query that reads like crap, when there are almost 200 examples of queries already there to compare to their own.
I fully expect this next phase of the book to be more frustrating, depressing, and arduous than the writing of the book was in the first place. Fortunately, I've got my work on my next book, my software work, my judo, and my family to keep my spirits up. And I've done some work to give myself a leg up on the people who haven't done their homework.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Content or Style?
I'm participating in a bi-weekly writing workshop. Last time, I read someones short story and had a criticism about the writers style. Chris has written a story that used both present and past tense. While I was reading it quickly, I found the first transition clumsy. This, in turn, gave me the immediate impression of bad writing, even though Chris isn't a bad writer. To me, it was a perfect example of style with respect to content.
To what effect should a writer use style to enhance the content?
This question has bothered me for a couple of weeks. I'm a simple guy. Not necessarily a simple writer, but I like things laid out so that I can read without stopping to parse complicated sentences, or ponder the tense of the writing. Tell me an interesting story and let the writing tell me in the best way possible. For me, that's usually a straightforward first or third person, past tense style of writing. I think there's plenty of flexibility within that structure. Half a million words in combination should give one a fair degree of creativity.
Some writers get so bogged down with style that they forget that the most important part of the story is the story. If we all spent a little more time making the action creative and interesting, then maybe we wouldn't think about using style trickery to tell story. I know I'd be a happier reader.
To what effect should a writer use style to enhance the content?
This question has bothered me for a couple of weeks. I'm a simple guy. Not necessarily a simple writer, but I like things laid out so that I can read without stopping to parse complicated sentences, or ponder the tense of the writing. Tell me an interesting story and let the writing tell me in the best way possible. For me, that's usually a straightforward first or third person, past tense style of writing. I think there's plenty of flexibility within that structure. Half a million words in combination should give one a fair degree of creativity.
Some writers get so bogged down with style that they forget that the most important part of the story is the story. If we all spent a little more time making the action creative and interesting, then maybe we wouldn't think about using style trickery to tell story. I know I'd be a happier reader.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Open the Vent
Vent open.
I've recently joined a writing workshop that meets bi-weekly at a local park. Other than a writing workshop class, this is my first experience with some folks that I don't know well. They're a mixed bunch - nice people, younger and older, more and less experienced (like me).
For the second meeting in a row, I feel like I got pounded. Yeah, I know I need it, but I think it's in the delivery. I try to make my criticism sound constructive. I try to point out some things that I liked about other people's words, even if I don't think they were that wonderful. I've got a lot to learn. I know this and I accept it. I wouldn't read my stuff if I didn't need the feedback.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion. It's funny how much several people's opinions can vary.
Person 1: I hated that. It was boring.
Person 2: I liked all the stuff that Person 1 hated.
Someone else's work is read.
Person 1: I loved that so much.
Me (thinking, but not saying it out loud): Really? I wasn't impressed.
One thing I've noticed is that while most other people's works are laden with emotional detail, my writing is more action oriented. It's something I'm working on: making people care about my characters. Here's what I wish other people would do with their writing: make the people in your stories do something. I'm tired of reading short stories about the emotional wrenching of "insert character name here". If something actually happens in the story that's interesting, maybe I'll care. If I wasn't sitting in this group right now, expected to give you some feedback, I'd have found something else to read. Do I really have to wade through 5, 8, or 10 pages of description (regardless of how good it is) only to find out that the story didn't have a twist or something interesting actually happen?
Sometimes I get the feeling that people forget that they're not just writing to entertain themselves. They're supposed to entertain the reader. Tell me that you don't like how I worded something or that my description is choppy. Hmm, okay. I think I'll look at that. Tell me that you were bored because the writing wasn't entertaining or nothing happened? I'm going to fix that immediately.
Finally, if I'm going to endeavor to bring something for feedback and you pound me, then bring me something you've written so I can see if you're worth taking the pounding from. Harumph!
Vent closed.
I've recently joined a writing workshop that meets bi-weekly at a local park. Other than a writing workshop class, this is my first experience with some folks that I don't know well. They're a mixed bunch - nice people, younger and older, more and less experienced (like me).
For the second meeting in a row, I feel like I got pounded. Yeah, I know I need it, but I think it's in the delivery. I try to make my criticism sound constructive. I try to point out some things that I liked about other people's words, even if I don't think they were that wonderful. I've got a lot to learn. I know this and I accept it. I wouldn't read my stuff if I didn't need the feedback.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion. It's funny how much several people's opinions can vary.
Person 1: I hated that. It was boring.
Person 2: I liked all the stuff that Person 1 hated.
Someone else's work is read.
Person 1: I loved that so much.
Me (thinking, but not saying it out loud): Really? I wasn't impressed.
One thing I've noticed is that while most other people's works are laden with emotional detail, my writing is more action oriented. It's something I'm working on: making people care about my characters. Here's what I wish other people would do with their writing: make the people in your stories do something. I'm tired of reading short stories about the emotional wrenching of "insert character name here". If something actually happens in the story that's interesting, maybe I'll care. If I wasn't sitting in this group right now, expected to give you some feedback, I'd have found something else to read. Do I really have to wade through 5, 8, or 10 pages of description (regardless of how good it is) only to find out that the story didn't have a twist or something interesting actually happen?
Sometimes I get the feeling that people forget that they're not just writing to entertain themselves. They're supposed to entertain the reader. Tell me that you don't like how I worded something or that my description is choppy. Hmm, okay. I think I'll look at that. Tell me that you were bored because the writing wasn't entertaining or nothing happened? I'm going to fix that immediately.
Finally, if I'm going to endeavor to bring something for feedback and you pound me, then bring me something you've written so I can see if you're worth taking the pounding from. Harumph!
Vent closed.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Starting Something New
My first fiction attempt, a Middle Grade novel is currently in beta. I have a couple people reading it, well hopefully they're actually reading it, and I need to find a couple more. In the meantime, I've been tossing a couple of other book ideas around in my head. The first one is a fictional memoir, but I haven't figured out some of the general things the protagonist has done, and I haven't figured out whether it's going to be in first or third person either. I started in first person, just a page, but I'm having doubts.
My second idea is a thriller. I started with a basic premise, based on a job that I had a few years ago, and have turned it into a novel about terrorists, software (technical details will be kept to a minimum), and an attempt to assassinate someone. I'm not the greatest plot planner and don't want to do too much up front planning, but I jotted down a few ideas and couldn't see how I'd fill a book. During an afternoon, I came up with a few more ideas and now, I may be able to pull it off. I know this is just my typical up-front jitters about taking a new step on a new work. Somehow I managed to create my Middle Grade novel and this one will come, too. I started that less than a year ago and I've forgotten already that it, too, began with just a basic premise and took several weeks of writing and brainstorming to come to fruition. This one will, too. One thing I will be doing is reading a few more thrillers to see how other authors build the story, the tension, and the action.
My second idea is a thriller. I started with a basic premise, based on a job that I had a few years ago, and have turned it into a novel about terrorists, software (technical details will be kept to a minimum), and an attempt to assassinate someone. I'm not the greatest plot planner and don't want to do too much up front planning, but I jotted down a few ideas and couldn't see how I'd fill a book. During an afternoon, I came up with a few more ideas and now, I may be able to pull it off. I know this is just my typical up-front jitters about taking a new step on a new work. Somehow I managed to create my Middle Grade novel and this one will come, too. I started that less than a year ago and I've forgotten already that it, too, began with just a basic premise and took several weeks of writing and brainstorming to come to fruition. This one will, too. One thing I will be doing is reading a few more thrillers to see how other authors build the story, the tension, and the action.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Read a book or Why TV is losing me
I watch Good Morning America (GMA) every day while I make breakfast. Some of it is interesting, but I realized a while ago that the amount of actual GMA is getting smaller. The last 10 minutes of every half hour, for example is either commercials or local news. If you've already seen the local news, then you're in for nothing but repeated information. Then the commercials come on and they're designed to annoy the crap out of you. If they're trying to sell me something then they're definitely missing the target.
If I hear another quirky female voice wailing about yogurt, hair products, Target, Apple, or anything else, I'm now more likely to scream at the TV, turn it off, and read a book than buy whatever they're hawking at the moment.
The sameness of TV shows is getting to me as well. I feel like I've seen it before. The new fall lineup - three new lawyer shows, four doctor/hospital shows, ABC announces another two "what the hell is going on" shows, 100 reality shows, blah blah blah. The things that get me in front of a TV nowadays are things that are well-written with good characters, and something I haven't seen already - Burn Notice, 24 - or maybe something that's a really well done retread like House or The Closer.
Still, at commercial time, the mute button is my friend. And once I'm tired of the sameness or the irritation, or even if I'm just in the mood to really get absorbed in my entertainment, I pick up whatever I'm reading at the moment. I really should do it more often; we all should.
If I hear another quirky female voice wailing about yogurt, hair products, Target, Apple, or anything else, I'm now more likely to scream at the TV, turn it off, and read a book than buy whatever they're hawking at the moment.
The sameness of TV shows is getting to me as well. I feel like I've seen it before. The new fall lineup - three new lawyer shows, four doctor/hospital shows, ABC announces another two "what the hell is going on" shows, 100 reality shows, blah blah blah. The things that get me in front of a TV nowadays are things that are well-written with good characters, and something I haven't seen already - Burn Notice, 24 - or maybe something that's a really well done retread like House or The Closer.
Still, at commercial time, the mute button is my friend. And once I'm tired of the sameness or the irritation, or even if I'm just in the mood to really get absorbed in my entertainment, I pick up whatever I'm reading at the moment. I really should do it more often; we all should.
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